Nova Cadamatre

Winemaker, Fiadh Ruadh

Over the course of almost two decades, Nova Cadamatre has become one of the most versatile and experienced winemakers in the industry. She holds a Bachelors from Cornell University in Viticulture. In 2017 she achieved the title of Master of Wine and was the first female winemaker in the US to do so. She has worked with some of the best vineyards in the world including significant time in the iconic To Kalon vineyard while working as the Senior Director of Winemaking for Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, CA. While there she crafted the #6 wine of 2022 for Wine Spectator’s top 100 list. She has been named to Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40 under 40 list and has numerous 90+ scoring wines to her credit from both coasts
Cadamatre owns three brands of her own; Trestle Thirty One and Snowshell Vineyards from the Finger Lakes and Fiadh Ruadh (Fay-ah Roo-ah) in Napa, CA. She currently goes back and forth between Napa and the Finger Lakes to manage both her projects and several consulting clients as a true “flying winemaker”.

Country born: US

Education: BS in Viticulture - Cornell University - 2006
Master of Wine - 2017
WSET Diploma - 2010
WSET Advanced - 2007
UC Davis, Graduate School of Management - Wine Executive Program - 2016
Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning - Emerging Executives Program 2019

Mentors:
Ed Killian, Director of Winemaking, Asti Winery,
Scott McLeod, Winemaking Consultant
Margo Van Staavern, Director of Winemaking, Chateau St Jean

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Honors / Awards:
Northern California Public Media Food and Wine Awards - Wine World Game Changer - 2023
#6 Wine of the Year - Wine Spectator, 2022
Wine Enthusiast 40 under 40 - 2014

Winemaking Philosophy:
I always try to make the best wine possible. I want the vineyard to show me what it wants to be and then I work hard to try to craft the highest possible translation of that in to the wine.